1ſuch why ſhould we throw away our time and breath in vain?
SIMPI. I muſt confeſs I have not made the obſervations, for
that I never had ſo much curioſity, or the Inſtruments proper for
the buſineſs; but I will not fail to do it. In the mean time, we
may leave this queſtion in ſuſpenſe, and paſs to that point which
follows, producing the motives inducing you to think that the
Earth may reflect the light of the Sun no leſs forceably than the
Moon, for it ſeems to me ſo obſcure and opacous, that I judg ſuch
an effect altogether impoſſible.
that I never had ſo much curioſity, or the Inſtruments proper for
the buſineſs; but I will not fail to do it. In the mean time, we
may leave this queſtion in ſuſpenſe, and paſs to that point which
follows, producing the motives inducing you to think that the
Earth may reflect the light of the Sun no leſs forceably than the
Moon, for it ſeems to me ſo obſcure and opacous, that I judg ſuch
an effect altogether impoſſible.
SALV. The cauſe for which you repute the Earth unapt for
illumination, may rather evince the contrary: And would it not
be ſtrange, Simplicius, if I ſhould apprehend your diſcourſes
ter than you your ſelf?
illumination, may rather evince the contrary: And would it not
be ſtrange, Simplicius, if I ſhould apprehend your diſcourſes
ter than you your ſelf?
SIMPL. Whether I argue well or ill, it may be, that you may
better underſtand the ſame than I; but be it ill or well that I
diſcourſe, I ſhall never believe that you can penetrate what I mean
better than I my ſelf.
better underſtand the ſame than I; but be it ill or well that I
diſcourſe, I ſhall never believe that you can penetrate what I mean
better than I my ſelf.
SALV. Well, I will make you believe the ſame preſently. Tell
me a little, when the Moon is near the Full, ſo that it may be ſeen
by day, and alſo at midnight, at what do you think it more
did, by day or by night?
me a little, when the Moon is near the Full, ſo that it may be ſeen
by day, and alſo at midnight, at what do you think it more
did, by day or by night?
SIMPL. By night, without all compariſon. And methinks
the Moon reſembleth that pillar of Clouds and pillar of Fire,
which guided the Iſraelites; which at the preſence of the Sun,
appeared like a Cloud, but in the night was very glorious. Thus
I have by day obſerved the Moon amidſt certain ſmall Clouds,
juſt as if one of them had been coloured white, but by night it
ſhines with much ſplendor.
the Moon reſembleth that pillar of Clouds and pillar of Fire,
which guided the Iſraelites; which at the preſence of the Sun,
appeared like a Cloud, but in the night was very glorious. Thus
I have by day obſerved the Moon amidſt certain ſmall Clouds,
juſt as if one of them had been coloured white, but by night it
ſhines with much ſplendor.
The Moon
pears brighter by
night than by day.
pears brighter by
night than by day.
The Moon
held in the day
time, is like to a
little cloud.
held in the day
time, is like to a
little cloud.
SALV. So that if you had never happened to ſee the Moon,
ſave onely in the day time, you would not have thought it more
ſhining than one of thoſe Clouds.
ſave onely in the day time, you would not have thought it more
ſhining than one of thoſe Clouds.
SIMPL. I verily believe I ſhould not.
SALV. Tell me now; do you believe that the Moon is really
more ſhining in the night than day, or that by ſome accident it
ſeemeth ſo?
more ſhining in the night than day, or that by ſome accident it
ſeemeth ſo?
SIMPL. I am of opinion, that it reſplends in it ſelf as much in
the day as night, but that its light appears greater by night,
cauſe we behold it in the dark mantle of Heaven; and in the day
time, the whole Atmoſphere being very clear, ſo that ſhe little
exceedeth it in luſtre, ſhe ſeems to us much leſs bright.
the day as night, but that its light appears greater by night,
cauſe we behold it in the dark mantle of Heaven; and in the day
time, the whole Atmoſphere being very clear, ſo that ſhe little
exceedeth it in luſtre, ſhe ſeems to us much leſs bright.
SALV. Now tell me; have you ever at midnight ſeen the
reſtrial Globe illuminated by the Sun?
reſtrial Globe illuminated by the Sun?
SIMPL. This ſeemeth to me a queſtion not to be ask'd, unleſs
in jeſt, or of ſome perſon known to be altogether void of ſenſe.
in jeſt, or of ſome perſon known to be altogether void of ſenſe.
SALV. No, no; I eſteem you to be a very rational man, and